STUDY IN CHINA

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

100 killed in Plateau, Taraba State

No fewer than 100 people, including a pastor and three soldiers, were killed at the weekend and Monday in Plateau and Taraba states.

Seventy of the deaths were recorded in Karim Lamido and Takum local government areas of Taraba State and 30 in two villages at the Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State.

It was learnt that suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded Vat and Zakupang , killing Pastor Luka Gwom of the Church of Christ in Nation and 29 others in the early hours of Monday.

Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Ikedichi Iweha, told our correspondent in Jos that the herdsmen took the action following the theft of about 400 of their cows. More than 300 of the stolen cows, according to him, were later found and returned to their owners.

He explained that the cows were stolen in Jos East and taken to Barakin Ladi, a development that made the herdsmen to launch the attacks.

The Chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Emmanuel Lomang, who also confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos, said the attackers killed 17 people in Vat and 13 others in Zakupang, where the Minister of Water Resources, Serah Ochekpe, hails from.

Lomang decried what he called “incessant attacks” on his people and challenged the security agencies, especially the Special Task Force to arrest the perpetrators.

The village head of Kapwen in Foron District, Gwom Ishaku Pam, confirmed Gwom’s death.

He added that a lady, Pualina, who got married two weeks ago, was among those killed by the herdsmen.

Pam said the series of attacks on the villagers had been causing them sleepless nights.

Efforts to contact the state Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Abuh, proved abortive as his telephone could not be reached.

The latest Plateau incident came as the Taroh people in Wase condemned the invasion of three of their communities by soldiers on reprisal on Saturday.

The soldiers were said to have arrived Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata in about 40 vehicles following reports of alleged killing of six of their colleagues at Angwan Nanmi in Karin Lamido LGA.

Although Iweha said that 28 people were killed, the traditional ruler of Kadarko, Lot Nde, put the figure at 39.